Zapatero

Zapatero (scientific name: Hyeronima alchorneoides) is also known as Pantano, Pilón or Shoemaker's Tree. Its name derives from Zapato (Spanish for shoe) and is owed to the wide-spreading roots that visibly support the tree. It is also called Pilón (Spanish for trough) due to its extremely hard wood suited for carving motars that are used to grind corn.

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The statement above and the information on this page, on from 'description', first written by ForestFinance or affiliates, seeing that they put their name under 'Projects with Zapatero', are not accurate and should be improved.

• Hieronyma is a genus belonging to the plant family Phyllanthaceae. This family was formerly united with spurges, crotons, copperleaves, etc (Euphorbiaceae), but have turned out to be well distinct.

• The spelling Hieronyma has been conserved; the spellings Hieronima and Hyeronima are orthographical variants of this name.

• Hieronyma alchorneoides is also known as (pilón, zapatero, llorón colorado, quindu cacao, carne asada, mascarey, suradan, suradanni) in Spanish and is a species of the Phyllanthaceae family.

• Zapatero is not used as common name for Hieronyma alchorneoides in English.

Description

The Zapatero grows up to a height of 100 to 150 feet in average. The first 65 feet are free of branches. The stem can reach a diameter of up to 5.6 feet. The large fresh leaves of the young Zapatero tree are very popular with the leaf-cutting ants and other insects. The simple, stalked leaves are alternate and large. Its hard, 0.1 to 0.2 wide achenes are initially green. The sweet fruit pulp turns purple when it is ripe. The fruit usually contains just one, easily germinating seed. The tiny, greenish white blossoms of the Zapatero are barely visible on the tree. Male and female blossom grow on about two inches long panicles on different trees. The gray-red bark peels off in thin layers. It is light pink to red on the inside. The strong shallow roots give the tree support. Zapatero wood has a rust-red color with slight copper tones.

Geography

Zapatero trees grow in tropical moist to very moist regions up to 2,950 feet above sea level. Its distribution ranges from southern Mexico to the Amazon region of Peru and Brazil.

Forestry

Zapatero is an uncomplicated tree which grows straight with a little care. It prefers sandy or clayey soils, but can also grow on acid or nutrient-poor soils and is resistant against stagnant moisture.

Uses

The wood of the Zapatero is dense and heavy: It is even resistant against termites. The processing of its timber requires good equipment and some skill. Because of its high density and salt water resistance it is often used in harbor construction or for bridge piers and railway sleepers. The tannin of the wood is used in the production of paint pigments and in the leather processing. The oil extracted from the seeds is a remedy for worm infestations.